A.D.D. Quilting

Sometimes I'm happiest when I have several things going at once. This is one of those periods, and the controlled chaos of the studio reflects these several projects. I made myself finish bags 3 and 4, using the grape/vine fabric and the matching lining. These bags are boxed, perfect for groceries. I'm trying to whittle down a pile of fabrics designated for Mors bags and build up my stock. Just because.



Newlyweds Tim and Kim Gibbons began the selection for their wedding quilt. Kim really liked Tumbling Blocks, and Tim is color-blind. He responds to values of a color rather than the color itself. So to create a 3-D effect, fabric selection is tricky. To see what I need I have to see what I have. Thus, the piles of various fabrics. These tumbling blocks will go on a black background.


And as long as I'm touching so many of my fabrics, I'm putting together a 16-fabric palette for the Jinny Beyer tote bag pattern. It's an interesting and frustrating exercise, but one that was made sweeter thanks to some CD's my grandson made for me. One was by Jason Becker, a guitar prodigy who was diagnosed with ALS when he was 19. He's now 40 and writing music using only eye movements. The other CD is by Yngwie Malmsteen, a fascinating Swedish multi-instrumentalist. Both have "symphonic rock" in common and are CD's I'll look forward to listening to again and again. The album by Jason Becker (youtube him - fascinating) led me down this path: what quilt would I make if I knew it was my last quilt. The tumbling blocks and color/value exercise are just out of my comfort zone. Challenging. Nice.

One More Path to Grief

Trish Schulz lost her daughter Lisa to ALS. Lisa was a vibrant, responsible, and beautiful woman whose life was too short. Trish is keeping Lisa's memory alive in several ways. She participates in the yearly Les Turner ALS Walk for Life, she holds chat sessions at her daughter's website , and now she has had this quilt made from Lisa's clothes. Grieving doesn't ever end - we just find different ways to do it. Trish wrote something from Lisa, and these words are on the back on the quilt. Trish and her grandchildren will always remember Lisa the Daughter and Lisa the Mother. Touching this quilt will remind them all that Lisa was once a part of their physical lives just as she is now a part of their spiritual lives.

This quilt features a variety of Lisa's clothes, including sweatpants, sweaters, blouses, and t-shirts. Also included are the ALS Walk For Life t-shirts that Trish has earned. The patchwork of the clothing only hints at the complexity of Lisa's life and death.

Life and Death Quilting

While I'm glad that my quilting brings comfort to those who are grieving, this kind of quilting requires an emotional investment that is sometimes difficult for me. My current "life celebration" project is a quilt made from Lisa's clothes. Lisa is the daughter of Trish Schulz, and Lisa died last year, a victim of ALS. For the third year her family participated in the ALS Walk for Life. Both Lisa's mom (center) and Lisa's daughter (long hair on the left) participated in the walk on September 13, the rainiest day in Chicago's history. Trish said tears and rain were indistinguishable throughout the walk.

After a few hours working on Lisa's quilt, I must switch to another project. I'm glad another current one is a grandmother's quilt for Oralee as the David Thompsons welcome their first grandchild. Birth and Death - what great reasons to quilt.